fire extinguisher

[johnakay]

not sure what is best for my little work shop.
I mainly do welding/grinding that may be hazardous.
theres several to chose from.
I was just going to buy a small co2 but????
any recomendations. cheers .john

 

[Omniata]

CO2 would probably be your best bet and it's electric friendly...

 

[brightspark]

get a medium size one the smaller ones soon run out

 

[johnakay]

thanks cor medium it is. cheers

 

[brightspark]

ive got a dry powder one u can have for nowt if any good 2 u

 

[Coo]

I was advised to go for foam.

co2 would put the fire out BUT wont cool the piece down to stop it reigniting.....

 

[madkayaker]

dry powder all ways. i have a 6kg one got it from lidl on special £15

 

[jugs]

If you have a dry powder unit,-

once a year turn it upside down & tap cyl with a rubber hammer to keep powder free running.

If its in a vehicle or boat, do it every 3 mths as the vibrations compact the powder into the base so you may not get a full discharge.

 

[Delgado]

You should really have both DP and CO2 in a workshop as DP makes a hell of a mess, and you don't really want to be using it in a confined space if you can get away with just using the CO2. Also the CO2 can be refilled for about a tenner, where as most places wont even bother refilling a DP (for H and S reasons), they'll just want sell you a new or reconditioned one as it works out about the same price.

That being said, If I had to only have one or the other, then I'd have the DP as it's more versitile.

 

[Robotstar5]

A bit of useful reading here if you only have one, a dry powder is best as it has good "knock down" but as mentioned does not cool, so you may get re-ignition.

 

[Hitch]

Try freecycle, i have had 2 water and a powder one from there. Decent sized ones too.

 

[Drains]

Dry powder puts out fires but is truly horrible. Co2 sounds and looks great but only puts out fires for as long as it takes oxygen to return, sort of.
Foam works, and can be good for electrical fires too. But check.

 

[Welderpaul]

I've had to use a Co2 extinguisher to put out a fire that was getting out of hand rather quickly. Frightening to see it flare back up as soon as the extinguisher was empty. The next thing to hand was a water extinguisher - it was an electrical fire, so ran to turn the electric off and used that.
Dry powder is horrible, but more effective imo.

 

[madkayaker]

dry powder does make a mess but they normally stay out

 

[Hitch]

I had a spot of bother in the back of the van with a powder one, took some cleaning off.....mind you, its got noting on that security smoke stuff!

 

[Omniata]

Powder should be used as a last resort IMHO...

Covers all fires but the gunge left behind is a nightmare to remove...

If you have to, keep water and CO2, get someone to use the CO2 until you isolate the electrics, then use water...

Avoid foam unless at all possible, there are instances whereby it can act as an accelerant, that is, fuel fires on absorbants...
It coats and curbs the fire but if enough air and heat is present within the mass it can cause it to heat and explode like a chip pan...
NB:// absorbants soak within the mass or "body", like sawdust, adsorbants soak onto their surface see link

 

[johnakay]

ive got a dry powder one u can have for nowt if any good 2 u

sorry for being late in replying. thanks anyway.
I've got a powder one a big un!
I don't like the thought of using it as you guys say it make a hell of a mess.

 

[brightspark]

sorry for being late in replying. thanks anyway.
I've got a powder one a big un!
I don't like the thought of using it as you guys say it make a hell of a mess.

ive got powder and c 02. wouldnt fancy powder covering everything myself but hopefully there wont be any need . the only real danger in my shed is me mororbike .the carbs are directly above the magneto pickup leads .ticcle the floats and it pees all over them not good when u have 5 gallon o fuel between your legs

 

[madkayaker]

sorry for being late in replying. thanks anyway.
I've got a powder one a big un!
I don't like the thought of using it as you guys say it make a hell of a mess.

but so does a fire

 

[chunkolini]

Question
Could you use an argon cyclinder like a CO2 extiguisher?
Getting the reg of quickly aside, would it do the job?
Chunko'.